Vintage cars on the road

By Rosie Ogden

THE most senior contestant is 68 years old, the youngest just 22, but they will be battling for every precious point this weekend as the 10th International Historic Car Rally gets under way at 11am today from Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square and Limassol Castle — the first time that the event has started from two places simultaneously.

Sixty-seven crews have entered cars ranging from a 1934 Ford Phaeton to a 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, and over three days they will tackle a 500 km route taking them from either Nicosia or Limassol to Kykko Monastery and then Platres today; from Platres via Polis Chrysochous and Latchi to Paphos tomorrow, and from Paphos to Episkopi, Kophinou, Larnaca and Latsia before the finish in Eleftheria Square in Nicosia at 5.05 p.m. on Sunday. To be eligible to enter, cars must be at least 20 years old, but the same rule does not apply to the crew, and undoubtedly the youngest crew member is Alexander Zachariades, 11, who will be co-driving for his mother Ersi in car number 66, a 1973 Mercedes 230.6. He started competing when he was nine, and this is his third international event.

Seven crews have made the journey from Greece to compete here, including Theodoros Voukides (No 2) who brings a 1937 Bentley Sports Saloon 444, Ioannis Argyros (4) driving a 1938 Ford V8, George Sakellaropoulos (6) with a 1944 Austin 10 and Michael Fournarakis (15) in a 1956 Plymouth Savoy.

Though the exact route is secret — competitors have to work it out from the road book — the cars will stop at almost all the locations mentioned for anything from 15 minutes to a couple of hours — not to mention the overnight halts in Platres and Paphos — so if you want a close-up look at the vehicles, make for the places on the itinerary.

Friday 15 May, 1998 Time

Nicosia Eleftheria Square 11.00

Limassol Castle 11.00

Kykko Monastery In 13.45

Kykko Monastery Out 16.30

Platres Forest Park Hotel In 17.55

Saturday 16 May, 1998 Time

Platres Forest Park Hotel Out 09.00

Polis Chrysochous, Latchi In 12.15

Polis Chrysochous, Latchi Out 16.30

Paphos, Tombs of the Kings 17.50

Paphos Poseidon Ave, CTO Plage In 18.00

Sunday, 17 May, 1998 Time

Paphos, Cypria Maris Hotel Out 09.30

Episkopi In 10.50

Episkopi Out 11.05

Kofinou In 12.45

Kofinou Out 14.00

Larnaca In 15.15

Larnaca Out 15.45

Latsia 16.51

Nicosia, Finish, Eleftheria Square 17.05

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